Illuminated signboard



July 18, 1950 B. L. PADGETT ILLUMINATED SIGNBOARD Filed Feb. 10, 1947 N @C ai o 0,0 \\|J A IS |Q\ O2 E2C. m 2, mC. 20mn O2 N mr 0 ZOCZ-PWMO mmDFx-(am DmFUwmxm n mJDDn-IUW 02 m .Iwjn @uw s |J\\ m nl@ B.L.PADGETT Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,515,664 ILLUMINATED slenonimy Benjamin L. Padgett, Washington, D. C. Application February 1o, 194.7, serial No. 727,669

` (o1. io-132) Claims. l

The following specification relates to my improved illuminated sign board designed to supply data interchangeably at the will of an attendant. It has been developed for special use as a bulletin board to .give data on arrival and departures of trains, airplanes and the like. It is equally well adapted, however, to posting information, quotations, facts and gures for public inspection.

It is an object of my invention to provide a sign board which is illuminated from the rear but arranged with a maximum economy of space.

A further object of my invention is to provide special facilities for obtaining even illumination over the full area of the board.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for convenient and easy interchange of letters and numerals or other indicia from the front of the board.

Among the objects of my invention is to make it possible to adjust the arrangement and widths of the respective columns of lettering and figures.

A still further object of my invention is to provide replaceable units for holding interchangeable letters, numerals and other indicia permitting their display against transmitted light. n Sign boards constructed in accordance with this invention are marked by economical construction, ease of operation, compactness in arrangement and durability.

For the purpose of illustrating the `essential features of the invention I have shown the preferred form thereof in the accompanying drawings in which:

. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved illuminated sign board;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and 'Fig 3 is a similar Vertical cross-section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the sign-holding assembly taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The sign board is constructed on a self-supporting base or casing 4 generally rectangular ln form and of any desired dimensions. This casing may be mounted upon a wall or other backing and severalunits may Ibe interlocked. It is designed to hold suitable lights and I have illustrated these as border light 5, 5. These lights are tubular fluorescent ones suitably mounted on the top and bottom walls of the casing. I have also shown a transformer or similar adapter for supplying current to the lights 5, 5 from the usual alternating current light sources.

The front edge of the casing has an inwardly into the sides of the latter.

give the effect` of ground glass `and `thus serveto diffuse the transmitted light for more even illumination. rIfhe panel `is most effective when it produces a fairly even source of illumination. For this purpose the border lights may be extended around all four sides if desired.

Some parts of the panel 8, such as the upper line shown in Fig. 1, may have lettering painted as desired. n l

The back surface of the panel is supported by a series of vertical rods 9 which may be two or more in number and spaced to coincide with the columns designated by the captions printed, onthe panel. These `rods serve not only as retainers for the. panel but also division lines between the several columns desired.

The front part of the casing 4 has afront frame II). This frame is pivoted along one side of the housing 4 and in the form illustrated is pivoted across the bottom by `means of pivots II,I I. `Suitable means is provided to hold the frame against the molding 1 as shown in Fig. 2. The frame forms a retainer for thepanel 8.

A seriesof sign holders I2 is provided to hold in position any desired indicia, letters or numerals. Each holder I2 extends laterally across the front of the frame l but need not be recessed Eachholder consists of translucent or transparent plastic material preferably extruded in the form of a channel member. It thus has a bottom flange I3 with an upturned edge, back of which the letter or like symbol rests. An upper flange I4 has a depending edge which may be suiciently long to permit the number card or the like to be inserted betweenthe edge of ange I4 and raised to clear the edge of the flange I3 after which, when the card rests upon the lower flange, the upper edge will hold the card from falling out. It is to be understood that the card will be cut in the form of a letter, numeral or index character. It may be, however, formed of transparent material on which the desired designation is painted.

The holders I2 are superposed one upon another. To prevent undue weight upon the lower ones of the series, selected holders I2 are independently supported from the sides of the frame 3 I D. Thus in Fig. 3 I have shown the lower holder I2 to rest upon a bracket I5 which is set into the side wall of the frame IIJ.

The anges of the holders I2 are apertured to receive a series of vertical rods I6. These rods fit in recesses in the top and bottom members of the frame Ill. They are spaced to coincide with the vertical lines designed to separate the several columns corresponding with the designations printed on the upper line of the panel 8. The rods reinforce the holders and prevent them from getting out of line.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 the panel 8 is held clamped between the retainers 9 in the rear and the sign holders I2 which, in turn are fastenedl in place by the front rods I6. The rods 9 are preferably coincidental withv two crmorefoff the` front rods I 6.

The utility of the frame is enhanced by the addition of a supplemental light cabinet I.'I mounted above the casing 4. This hasan'illuminated window I8 and a tubular light I9 inthe rear.

By use of the arrangement above described, a sign board is provided. in which an` illuminated diffusingv panel is. displayed; Interchangeable tracks or guideways are provided which permit. the arrangement offany suitable translucent sign or designation to. be arranged as desired infront of the panel andl illuminated thereby. The channel members serve also to hold the diffusing. panel. inv place while the vertical. rods are inconspicuous because they coincide with the dividing linesbetween. the several columns. The front frame may be, tilted4 out to replace the translucent panel. It also permits rearrangement of the channell members as may be, desired..

In practiceit. has also 'been found advantageous toreverse the positions ofthe retaining. bars 9,. the holders. I2 and. reinforcingbars' |61. Thus the.

barsv 9 are put in front of the panel 8, and the holders I2 and bars. I6 put. behind' the panel. This permits changing. the sign inserts` from the` rear without obstructing the view or. diverting attention. In all other respects'the arrangement and` operation are they same. Panel sections. not being used are obscured by opaque inserts.

The preferred. form of the. invention. has been illustrated by way of example.. However, many minor changes may be made in proportions, materials and: minor structural details without departing from4 the, scope of the. invention as defined. in. the following. claims.

What I claim ist.

1-.. A. sign board having` a casing, open at the front, a plurality of yrods across the. front'v opening, lamps mounted within the. casing. a translucent panel extending over the front opening, a frame fitted over the opening, and clamping. the

panel. against, the rods,. a series of translucent channel members. in the frame. and, av plurality of rods running transversely through thev channel members opposite the rstnamed rods.

2f.. A sign` board' havingv a casing open at the front, an inwardly extending rib around the front opening, a plurality of rods across the front opening and seated on opposite sides of the rib, lamps mounted within the casing, a translucent panel extending over the opening in the plane of the rib, a frame fitted over the opening and resting against the outer face of the rib, a series of translucent channel members in the frame and a plurality ofrods running transversely through the: channel:r members oppositey ther first named rods.

3. A sign board having a casing open at the front, an inwardly extending rib around the front opening, aplurality of rods across the front openv ing and seated on opposite sides of the rib, lamps mounted within the casing, a translucent panel extending overk the opening in the plane of the rib,. a. frame fitted over the opening and resting against the outer face of the rib, a series of translucent channel members in the frame, brackets on the frame' for supporting certain of said members and a pluralityA of rods running transversely through the channel members opposite the rst named rods. 4

4'. A sign board having a casing open at the frontan inwardly extending rib around the front opening, a plurality of rods across the front opening and seated on opposite sides of the rib, lamps mounted within the casing, a translucent panel extending. over the opening in the plane of the rib,` a frame fitted over the opening andv resting against the outer face of the rib, a series of translucent channel. members in. the frame, said" members having forwardly projecting flanges with vertically extendingA edges and a plurality of rods'running transversely through the flanges of tlre4 channel members opposite the first named. rods.

5. A sign board havingY a casing open at the front, an inwardly extending rib around the front opening,.a plurality of. rods across the front opening-and seated on opposite sides of the rib, lamps mounted within the casing, a light diffusing panel extending. over the opening in the plane of the rib, a frame fitted over the opening and resting against theouter face of the rib, a series of'transparent channel members in the frame and a plu.- rality of rods having their endsset in the opposite' sides of the frame and running transversely through the. channel members opposite the first named rods.

BENJAMIN L. PADGETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thele. of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 843,124I Townsend Feb. 5, 1907' 1,644,742 Moyniha-n Oct. 11, 1927 1,841,026 Greenstone Jan. l2, 1932 2,093,412 Bradshaw etal. Sept. 21, 1937 

